Hiram Willits, 1821-1892

WILLITS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Rich Lowe (email)
Date: 9/27/2001 at 14:26:29

MENDOCINO DISPATCH DEMOCRAT Friday April 1, 1892 Pg. 2 Col. 5
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE
HIRAM WILLITS DIES IN SAN FRANCISCO WHILE ON A VISIT THERE

The citizens of this place as well as of the county at large were considerably shocked last Sunday to learn of the death of Hiram Willits of Willits which occurred at the Russ House, San Francisco, early that morning.

For many years deceased had been a great sufferer from asthma and during the past winter has been afflicted to an unusual degree with it. A couple of weeks ago he went to San Francisco, accompanied by his wife, to try to secure relief by medical treatment. He continued to grow worse and on Sunday morning he breathed his last. Asthma affected his heart very badly, and we are informed that the-immediate cause of his death was heart disease. The body of deceased, accompanied by the suffering widow and a niece, was brought up on Monday's train and taken to Willits, where on Tuesday it was interred in Sawyers cemetery, being followed to its last resting place by his bereaved wife, brother-in-law, two nephews and a large concourse of friends.

Hiram Willits was born in Wayne county, Indiana, February 5, 1821. Accompanied by his wife he came across the plains to California in 1850 and settled at Rough and Ready, near Hang Town, going into the hotel business. In 1854 he moved to Colusa county and began farming and stock raising, remaining there until 1857 when he came to Mendocino and settled in Little Lake Valley, on the ranch he has ever since made his home. He began merchandising in 1865, his store being the nucleus of the little town that bears his name. He was postmaster at Willits for over twenty years. He was elected supervisor in 1860 and held that office for two terms of two years each. He was again elected to the same office in 1872 and served for four years. At the time of his death he was a member of the Willits board of town trustees. He has always been a public spirited citizen and has always given a helping hand to local enterprise. The ranch which he owned in partnership with his brother-in-law, 0. Johnson, is one of the finest in the county. Deceased was an admirer of fine stock, both cattle and horses, and raised some of the fastest thoroughbred stock in the state. He was a man of strict integrity and sterling honesty, considering his word as good as his bond and it was with all who knew him. In his death Mendocino county loses one of its oldest and best pioneers. He was married in 1844 to Margaret J. Johnson who survives him. They had no children. To the aged widow will go out the warmest sympathy of a large circle of friends in the county and elsewhere.

[I would like to hear from anyone with connection to this family. - Rich]